Compressor seal



Jun 20, 1939. PE'II'ERSON 2,163,153 I COMPRESSOR SEAL Filed Sept. 28,1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 20," 1939. A. PETERSON 2,163,153

COMPRESQSOR SEAL Patented June 20, 1939 ."UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE-2,163,153 COMPRESSOR SEAL Arvid Peterson, Trenton, N. J., asslgnor to DeLaval Steam Turbine Company, Trenton, N. J a corporation of New JerseyApplication September 28, 1936, Serial No. 102,901

1 Claim.

This invention relates to an improvement in compressors, pumps and thelike, and more parf ticularly relates to a compressor provided with apacking box so constructed as to prevent the leakage of gas when thecompressor is shut down.

Heretofore the leakage of gas from compressors, ,and particularly fromsuch adapted for handling, for example, illuminating gas, coke oven gasand the like, has been prevented during the operation.

gas pressure building up in the compressor casing.

Various efforts have been made toavoid leakage of gas from compressorswhen out of operation, but none has proved entirely efficient andsatisfactory. Thus it has been proposed to introduce a heavy grease orsoap into the sealing chamber when the compressor is shut down, but suchhas proved objectionable. Again it has been proposed to displace theentire packing housing axially against the revolving collar on theshaft, but such presents the possibility of the escape of gas throughthe sliding fitwhich must be provided between the packing housing andthe compressor casing.

Now in accordance with this invention there is provided a packing boxstructure for compressors and the like comprising essentially a sylphonbellows and a stationary collar adapted to be slid against a collar onthe shaft whereby a gas-tight joint, resistant to relatively highpressure in the compressor casing, is formed.

Having now indicated in a general way the nature and purpose of thisinvention, I will proceed to a detailed description thereof withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which there is illustrated apreferred embodiment thereof, and in which:

Figure 1 is a sectional view of a packing box ing is a packing boxcomprising a casing 4 within which is formed a water sealing chamber 5,adapted to be connected with a supply of water through a tapped opening8 and from which water will be discharged through a conduit 1. Leakagefrom 5' the chamber 5 is prevented by means of suitable packings l0 andI4. Within the chamber 5 and carried by shaft 3 is a collar 9, which onoperation of the compressor causes pressure to be built up in the watersealing chamber 5.

Slidably mounted around shaft 3 and packed with respect thereto is asleeve ll carrying a collar II at one end and a collar I3 intermediateits ends. The collar I2 is formed integral with sleeve 3 and has asliding fit on the casing, while collar 15 I3 engages the casing with atight fit and has a sliding fit on the sleeve. A sylphon bellows I6extends between and is welded to the collars l2 and I3 and the outerface of the collar [2 is provided with an annular facing ll ofrelatively soft 20 metal as, for example, Babbitt metal.

The outer end of sleeve II is threaded and carries a nut l8 bearingagainst the casing 4 and provided with a handle l9, which works in acutaway portion 22 in the casing and by which the 25 nut may be turned;A set screw 20 passing throughthe casing 4 is adapted for adjustment tosecure the nut IS in any given position.

As will now be appreciated, the sleeve ll slidable on but not revolublewith shaft 3 will be 30 slid inwardly or outwardly on turning of thenutl8 one way or the other and as a consequence the facing I! may bebrought in contactwith or spaced from collar 9 on shaft 3 and thesylphon bellows expanded or contracted. 35

When the compressor, or the like, is in operation escape of gas will beprevented by the water seal, and the sleeve I l willbe in its outwardposition with the facing ll spaced from the collar 9 as shown inFigure 1. Whenever the compressor, 40 or the like, is stopped and thewater seal may become ineffective, the sleeve II is moved inwardly, byturning nut l8, and the facing I! brought into contact with the collar9, as will be clear from. Figure 1. The set screw 20 will be adjusted to45 hold the nut l8 and consequently the sleeve l l in either of itspositions indicated.

When the sleeve I I is adjusted to bring the facing I! in contact withthe collar 9, the contact of the facing with the collar will positivelypre- 50 vent the leakage of gas from the compressor casing, it beingnoted that the passage of gas from the casing must be outside of theperiphery of collar 9. The sylphon bellows, having gas-tight connec onwith the collars l2 and I3, and' the 55 As will be obvious, the waterseal arrangement described herein does not form any essential part ofthis invention and such may be substituted for by a steam seal or thelike, or omitted; it being appreciated that this invention operates whenthe compressor or the like, and consequently the water seal or the like,is out of operation.

What I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

In a compressor, or the like, including a casing and a shaft extendingthrough the casing, packing means comprising a shoulder carried by theshaft, an'axially adjustable sleeve supported by the casing, having athreaded outer-end, surrounding the shaft, and arranged to provide anannular fluid-tight seal with said shoulder, a collar surrounding thesleeve between its ends and forming a tight joint with the casing, aflexible annular element of substantial axial extent surrounding'saidsleeve and having fluid tight engagement at its one end with the'innerend of said sleeve and at its other end with the collar, and a nut onthe threaded end of the sleeve, said nut being rotatably mounted on thecasing and fixed against axial movement for adjustably fixing saidsleeve either in contact with the shoulder or spaced therefrom. ARVIDPETERSON.

